IMPHAL Feb 25: Assistant Director of Human Rights Law Network, Thokchom Premlata in a press release charged the police of high handedness while dealing with civilians.
The release mentions that as she returned from Lamphel Court Complex at around 4.45 pm today, she witnessed women street vendors being beaten in front of the newly constructed Nupi Keithel by DSP Traffic, Y Victoria herself.
Further , HRLN Assistant Director charged that there is no provision in the criminal laws of the land which permits police personnel to beat people just to disperse and prevent them from vending on the road side . Whereas, HRLN agrees that running street vendor on the road side is not permitted but at the same time maintained that traffic police are not permitted to use force.
It further alleged that the incident is a clear cut act of high handedness and misuse of authority assigned to her and every police personnel should understand that their primary duty is to assist the common people and to enforce the law against violators.
The release urged the concerned authorities to look into the matter to prevent similar recurrence as the street vendors are mostly coming from poor families and if their means of earning are strangled, then they may get plunged into immoral activities, the release stated.
